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☆ Factbox: US offshore wind projects facing inflation headwinds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

One megawatt (MW) can power about 1,000 U.S. homes but since wind is an intermittent resource - 1 MW of offshore wind can power about 500 U.S. homes, according to offshore wind developers. SOUTH FORKDenmark's Orsted (ORSTED.CO), the world's largest offshore wind power developer, is building the 132-MW project off Rhode Island and Massachusetts. COMMONWEALTH WINDThe 1,232-MW project off Massachusetts, which was formerly a part of the larger New England Wind project, is also facing potential delays. ATLANTIC SHORES OFFSHORE WIND SOUTHThe joint venture between Shell and French EDF is developing a large offshore wind park off New Jersey. MARWINMaryland's first offshore wind project is expected to start operations in 2025-2026.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, GW, Lazard, Vineyard, Orsted, Eversource, NYSERDA, Norway's Equinor, Avangrid, MARWIN, Nerijus Adomaitis, Nichola Groom, Scott DiSavino, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal, State, White, REUTERS, U.S, U.S . Department of Energy, Reuters, Washington , D.C, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Avangrid, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Public Service Enterprise, Orsted, Eversource Energy, Rhode Island Energy, Dominion Energy, Virginia Beach, Dominion, NYSERDA, COMMONWEALTH, Shell, EDF, US, Italy's Renexia SpA, US Wind, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington ,, Spanish, Copenhagen, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode, Connecticut, Orsted, VIRGINIA, Virginia, York, Long, Montauk, Massachusetts, French, ATLANTIC, Atlantic Shores, Italy's Renexia, Maryland

☆ In a US showdown with China, there are some missions with no special-operations 'easy button'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Special-operations forces have been a centerpiece of US military operations for two decades. US leaders should remember that special operators aren't suited for some tasks, one expert says. But in an era of strategic competition with China, there are some missions with no special-ops "easy button," according to David Ucko, a professor and expert on irregular warfare. First, the US special-operations community should consolidate its core strengths, particularly irregular warfare, which is "highly relevant" to strategic competition with China. US Navy SEALs train with Philippine Navy special-operations and Australian army special-operations troops in Palawan in April 2022.

Persons: David Ucko, David Devich, Ucko, US Army John F, Mario A, Ramirez, Jared N, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, US Special Forces, US Army, Royal United Services Institute, China, Air Force, RAF Mildenhall, US Air Force, Tech, Westin Warburton, Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, State, Justice, Treasury, US Navy, Philippine Navy, US Marine Corps, Army Green Beret, Philippine National Police, Coast Guard, British SAS, Commonwealth, Group, SAS, Allies, Army Delta Force, Delta Force, US Army Rangers, US Army Green Berets, Psychological Operations, Boat Service, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, SOF, Afghanistan's Ghazni, British, Russia, North Carolina, Palawan, Ukraine, Taiwan, North Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Johns

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Employers are holding on to workers — and it’s costing them
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Initial jobless claims fell last week to a seasonally adjusted 216,000, according to a report by the U.S. Labor Department. In other words, the labor market still looks tight because employers are laying off fewer people and paying them more. There's now a 39.9% chance rates will go up 25 basis points then, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Persons: There's, Brad McMillan, McMillan, Jeff Cox Organizations: AMD, Apple, CNBC, U.S . Labor Department, Federal, Nvidia, Devices, Seagate, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Intel's, Commonwealth Financial Locations: Shanghai, China, U.S

☆ Dollar rises on robust U.S. economy, yuan sinks to 16-year low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Joice Alves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. China's onshore yuan slid to a 16-year low, under pressure from a property slump, weak consumer spending and shrinking credit growth in the world's second-largest economy. ONSHORE YUAN HIT 2007 LEVELSThe onshore yuan sank to 7.3296 per dollar, its weakest since December 2007. The Australian dollar was about flat at $0.6384, while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.3% at $0.5885, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows. “We see yuan staying under pressure (against the dollar) in the near term," said Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kirstine Kundby, Joseph Capurso, Becky Liu, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Joice Alves, Rae Wee, Zhou, Sharon Singleton, Chizu Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, U.S ., Nielsen, Danske Bank, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Standard Chartered Bank, People's Bank of China, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, China's, Japan, Asia, Bank

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.875 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. "Stronger-than-expected ISM services reaffirmed the U.S. outperformance narrative, adding broad support to the U.S. dollar," said Kirstine Kundby-Nielsen, analyst at Danske Bank. The onshore yuan slid to a fresh 10-month low of 7.3270 per dollar, not far from hitting a 16-year low. The Australian dollar was about flat at $0.6386, while the New Zealand dollar was up 0.2% at $0.5881, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kirstine Kundby, Joseph Capurso, Matt Simpson, Sterling, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Joice Alves, Rae Wee, Sharon Singleton Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, U.S ., Nielsen, Danske Bank, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Index, Bank of England, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, China's, Beijing, China, Bank, Japan, London, Singapore

☆ Dollar shines as US economy outperforms, yen at 10-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.875 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. That did little to help the Australian dollar , which was still down 0.15% at $0.6373, while the New Zealand dollar last bought $0.58735, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows. The offshore yuan fell marginally to 7.3255 per dollar, while its onshore counterpart was pinned near the previous session's 10-month low. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably."

Persons: Florence Lo, Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana, Rae Wee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, China's, Beijing, Asia, U.S, ASIA, Japan

☆ Aussie lender NAB to cut 222 back-office jobs, says trade union
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Poonam Behura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB.AX) is planning to cut 222 back-office jobs, the Finance Sector Union (FSU) said in an emailed response to Reuters. FSU, a white-collar trade union, said NAB’s restructuring will impact its departments such as Personal Direct Lending, Technology and Operations, Corporate Finance and Client Coverage. "This means certain roles may no longer be required or need to be moved to support other teams." NAB reported a 5% jump in third-quarter cash earnings in August, including a decline in its margins due to higher home lending competition and deposit costs.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Julia Angrisano, Poonam, Shilpi Majumdar, Devika Organizations: National, REUTERS, National Australia Bank, Finance Sector Union, FSU, Reuters, Technology, Corporate Finance, NAB, Australian, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corp, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Stock futures are little changed as traders weigh risk of rate hikes: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Stock futures were little changed Thursday evening. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 23 points, or 0.07%. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures hovered near the flat line. The S&P 500 lost 0.3%, falling a third day. Renewed fears over more rate hikes from the Federal Reserve were further justified as initial jobless claims came in at 216,000 — lower than the 230,000 anticipated by economists polled by Dow Jones.

Persons: RH, Dow, Dow Jones, Brad McMillan Organizations: Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Investors, Fed, Commonwealth Financial Network, Dow

☆ Dollar shines as US economy outperforms, yen plumbs 10-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The Japanese currency last bought 147.76 per dollar, having weakened past the closely-watched 145 threshold for nearly a month now. "Yen's verbal intervention begs the question whether a real intervention is likely," said Saxo market strategist Charu Chanana. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably." The Australian dollar slid 0.05% to $0.63795, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.01% to $0.5869, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.

Persons: Florence Lo, Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana, Rae Wee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Australian, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, U.S, ASIA, Japan

Depleted uranium is a dense by-product left over when uranium is enriched for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. The depleted uranium is still radioactive, but has a much lower level of the isotopes U-235 and U-234 - way less than the levels in natural uranium ore - reducing its radioactivity. The United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Pakistan produce depleted uranium weapons, which are not classified as nuclear weapons, according to the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons. Ingesting or inhaling quantities of uranium - even depleted uranium - is dangerous: it can depress renal function and raises the risk of developing a range of cancers. A United Nations Environment Programme report on the impact of depleted uranium on Serbia and Montenegro found "no significant, widespread contamination".

Persons: Sergei Ryabkov, Ryabkov, Guy Faulconbridge, Frank Jack Daniel, Tomasz Janowski, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Pentagon, International Atomic Energy Agency, Associated Universities, of, DU, WHO, International Coalition, Uranium, NATO, Royal Society, IAEA, United Nations Environment, TASS, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Tennessee, United States, Britain, Russia, China, France, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, Balkans, London, Serbia, Montenegro, RUSSIA, Washington

☆ Dollar shines as U.S. economy outperforms, yen plumbs 10-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The greenback scaled a fresh top of 147.865 yen in early Asia trade, its highest since last November. The Japanese currency last bought 147.76 per dollar, having weakened past the closely-watched 145 threshold for nearly a month now. "Yen's verbal intervention begs the question whether a real intervention is likely," said Saxo market strategist Charu Chanana. "As we have seen in the past, real intervention barely reverses the course of the yen sustainably." The Australian dollar slid 0.05% to $0.63795, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.01% to $0.5869, with both languishing near their recent 10-month lows.

Persons: Sterling, Joseph Capurso, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Governor Bailey, Capurso, Saxo, Charu Chanana Organizations: greenback, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ECB, Australian, New Zealand Locations: Asia, U.S, Japan

☆ King Charles thanks public for their love as he marks death of Queen Elizabeth
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/11] Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla receive flowers and a card from local school children as they leave Crathie Parish Church, near Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, after a church service, to mark the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning sovereign, died aged 96 on Sept. 8 at Balmoral Castle, her Scottish summer retreat after a 70-year reign. 'SOLEMN'Charles' eldest son and heir Prince William and wife Kate paid their own tribute to the queen and will attend a private church service to commemorate her life. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the thoughts of the nation would be with Charles and his family on "the solemn anniversary". Polls suggest most Britons have a favourable view of his reign so far, although younger generations appear much less enthusiastic.

Persons: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth, Britain's, Charles, Prince William, Kate, Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, Crathie, Prince, Princess, Rishi Sunak, Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Holden, Alexandra Hudson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: LONDON, Balmoral, Scottish, St Davids Cathedral, London, Commonwealth, Thomson Locations: Crathie Parish, Balmoral, Scotland, Britain, Scottish, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Crathie Kirk, Wales, London

☆ King Charles to quietly mark death of late mother, Queen Elizabeth
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, after she presented him with a Royal Horticultural Society Victoria Medal of Honour, during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London May 18, 2009. REUTERS/Sang Tan/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 7(Reuters) - King Charles will on Friday privately mark the first anniversary of the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth and his accession to the throne, spending the day quietly at the Scottish royal home where the late monarch passed away last year. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the thoughts of the nation would be with Charles and his family on "the solemn anniversary". "With the perspective of a year, the scale of her late majesty's service only seems greater," Sunak said. Charles first year on the throne has been dominated by his coronation, Britain's biggest ceremonial event for generations, full of pomp and pageantry.

Persons: Britain's Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Sang, King Charles, Elizabeth, Britain's, Charles, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, George VI, Liz Truss, Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Holden, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Royal Horticultural Society, Chelsea, REUTERS, Scottish, Balmoral, London, Commonwealth, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: London, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain

However, as government policies started to line up in the industry's favor in recent years, offshore wind developers unveiled a host of new project proposals, mostly off the U.S. East Coast. Many contracts for offshore wind projects have no mechanism for adjustment in the case of higher interest rates or costs. In New York, offshore wind developers also sought to boost the price of power produced at their projects. Norway's Equinor EQNR.OL and its partner BP (BP.L) are seeking a 54% increase for the power produced at three planned offshore wind farms - Empire Wind 1 and 2 and Beacon Wind. But the offshore wind industry is not fully satisfied.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Eli Rubin, Rubin, Equinor, France's, Scott DiSavino, Nerijus, Nichola Groom, Simon Webb, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal, State, White, REUTERS, U.S ., Dominion, EBW Analytics, Reuters, U.S . Federal Reserve, Commonwealth, BP, Nichola, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Europe, U.S . East Coast, Rhode, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Oslo, Culver City

☆ The Capitol physician said Mitch McConnell's health scares may have been a result of dehydration. Sen. Rand Paul doesn't believe it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had two recent health scares while at press conferences. The Capitol physician said McConnell may have just been dehydrated and didn't have a stroke. GOP Sen. Rand Paul, also a licensed physician, said he doesn't believe the physician's diagnosis. But on Tuesday afternoon, Paul, a licensed ophthalmologist, who graduated from Duke Medical School in 1988, told reporters he disagreed with the Capitol physician's findings. AdvertisementAdvertisement"To have the Senate doctor describe it as dehydration," Paul said, "I think even non-physicians seeing that probably aren't really accepting that explanation."

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, GOP Sen, Rand Paul, doesn't, Republican Sen, Mitch McConnell's, Brian P, Monahan, Paul, it's, Sen, Rick Scott Organizations: Capitol, GOP, Service, Republican, Duke Medical School, Politico Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kentucky

London CNN —Britain’s second-biggest city effectively declared itself bankrupt on Tuesday, shutting down all nonessential spending after being issued with equal pay claims totaling up to £760 million ($956 million). Birmingham City Council, which provides services for more than one million people, filed a Section 114 notice on Tuesday, halting all spending except on essential services. The deficit arose due to difficulties paying between £650 million (around $816 million) and £760 million (around $954 million) in equal pay claims, the notice report says. The city now expects to have a deficit of £87 million ($109 million) for the 2023-24 financial year. Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of the council, told councilors on Tuesday it faces “longstanding issues, including the council’s historic equal pay liability concerns,” according to the United Kingdom’s PA Media news agency.

Persons: London CNN —, Sharon Thompson, Thompson, Birmingham “, ”, “, Rishi Sunak, John Cotton Organizations: London CNN, Birmingham City Council, United Kingdom’s, Media, Conservative Party, UK, BBC, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Locations: Birmingham, ” “, England

☆ Basketball-sized gold coin worth ‘around $23M’ honors late Queen Elizabeth II
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It was produced by the East India Company, a luxury lifestyle brand with rights to the name of the corporation that once controlled large swathes of Britain’s empire. Businessman Sanjiv Mehta, who acquired the rights to the East India Company in 2005, poses with the diamond-encrusted coin. The East India Company said its multi-million-dollar valuation was partly due to the quality of the materials and crafting processes, which involved artisans and experts from the UK, India, Singapore, Germany and Sri Lanka. The original East India Company operated for almost 300 years before its dissolution in 1874. “The Crown” took over a year to produce, meaning that it was underway before Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland last September.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth’s, Sanjiv Mehta, tiaras, ”, Queen Elizabeth, Mehta Organizations: CNN, East India Company, Sotheby’s, NBA, British Overseas, Government, Royal Household, Royal, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Locations: York, India, Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, Scotland, British Overseas Territory, St Helena

☆ Hundreds of millions pledged for African carbon credits at inaugural climate summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Companies Climate FollowVitol SA FollowNAIROBI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - An initiative to boost Africa's carbon credit production 19-fold by 2030 drew hundreds of millions of dollars of pledges on Monday as Kenyan President William Ruto opened the continent's first climate summit. In one of the most anticipated deals, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed to buying $450 million of carbon credits from the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI). "There hasn't been any success for an African country in attracting climate finance," said Bogolo Kenewendo, a United Nations climate adviser and former trade minister in Botswana. Many African campaigners have opposed the summit's approach to climate finance, and about 500 people marched in downtown Nairobi on Monday to protest. They say carbon credits are a pretext for continued pollution by wealthier countries and corporations, who should instead pay their "climate debt" through direct compensation and debt relief.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Bogolo Kenewendo, Bogolo, Kevin Kariuki, Patricia Scotland, Esa Alexander, we've, Hassan Ghazali, Britain, Sultan Al Jaber, COP28, Duncan Miriri, Simon Jessop, Jefferson Kahinju, Aaron Ross, Hereward Holland, Angus MacSwan, Susan Fenton Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Africa Carbon Markets, United, African Development Bank, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Climate Asset Management, HSBC Asset Management, Debt, Green, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, UAE, Nairobi, Africa, United Nations, Botswana, Muloza, Mozambique, Blantyre, Malawi, Liberia, Tanzania, Germany, Kenya

New Delhi CNN —The bulldozers and government officials arrived just before dawn, tearing down the row of shanties as its bewildered residents watched inconsolably nearby. CNN has reached out to the New Delhi and federal governments but is yet to receive a response. Rhea Mogul/CNN“I can’t explain how distraught everyone was as they bulldozed the homes,” Savita said. The demolitions are being done with extreme cruelty.”Savita helps her children with homework at a temporary home in Delhi. Modi sees India as a confident and modern superpower, a voice for the voiceless seizing the 21st century.

Persons: ”, Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Rhea Mogul, Narendra Modi, Harsh Mander, Jayanti Devi, Savita, ” Savita, “, ” Mander, Modi, ” Modi, …, ’, ” Devi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, ”, British, CNN, Policy Research, Survey, India, ASI, CNN Homeless, Workers, Indian National Congress, Commonwealth Games, Global, “ Locations: New Delhi, “, Devi, Pragati, Rhea, India, Delhi, Mander, Ukraine, United States

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Friday to discuss grain ahead of the Erdogan meeting. "It turned out that it is more difficult to do this than to build new corridors, new ground routes," said Shoigu, who attended the signing ceremony for the Black Sea deal in Istanbul in 2022. Turkey's foreign minister said at a briefing in Moscow on Thursday that reviving the deal was important for the world. U.S. wheat prices rose on Friday, though Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia saw no sign that it would receive the guarantees needed to revive the grain deal. Lavrov said he had discussed Putin's initiative to supply up to 1 million tonnes of Russian grain to Turkey at reduced prices for subsequent processing at Turkish plants and shipping to countries most in need.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Putin, Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan, Dmitry Peskov, Erdogan, Hakan Fidan, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, it's, Russia's, António Guterres, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey, Conor Humphries, Alison Williams Organizations: Sputnik, Erdogan, UN, United Nations, United, Kremlin, Turkish, Russian, Central African, Initiative, Qatar, Russian Agricultural Bank, SWIFT, Thomson Locations: Asia, Astana, Kazakhstan, Sochi Turkey, Russia, MOSCOW, Black, Sochi, Ankara, Ukraine, United Nations, Turkey, Moscow, Istanbul, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea, EU, Odesa

☆ New Delhi doesn’t want its monkeys to ruin G20. But it has a plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Enter the langur – or at least, cardboard cutouts of langurs – and men trained to sound like the bigger primates. “Monkeys cannot be displaced, harmed or hit.”Men walk past monkeys on a street in New Delhi on August 30 ahead of the G20 Summit. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty ImagesUpadhyay added they have also deployed between 30 and 40 men who can mimic the sounds of langurs to trick the rhesus monkeys into thinking they are nearby. The council has also left food for the monkeys in forested areas to encourage them to remain there, he added. Much of central New Delhi will come to a halt for the G20 with a huge operation to keep global leaders moving freely between the hotels and meeting venues.

Persons: jetting, Joe Biden, –, ” Satish Upadhyay, Arun Sankar, Narendra Modi’s Organizations: CNN, Authorities, New, New Delhi Municipal Council, Getty, Commonwealth Games, Reuters Locations: India, New Delhi, New

☆ Gabon coup: How France's neo-colonial empire in its former territories is disintegrating
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A torn campaign billboard shows ousted Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Libreville on August 31, 2023. AFP/Getty ImagesPropping up ‘democratic dictators’Whilst the international community has condemned the coup in Gabon, it has not attracted the same vehement criticism that last month’s coup in Niger did. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France was watching the coup d’etat in Gabon “with the utmost attention.”It presents a challenge to France. Large crowds supporting the coup gathered Sunday near the French military base in Niamey, with demonstrators displaying signs demanding French troops withdraw. “The systems of government that former French colonies have, which were imposed by Paris are no longer fit for purpose.

Persons: Leon, Charles de Gaulle, Gaulle, Bongo, jubilation, General Brice Oligui Nguema –, Bongo’s, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, ”, Ali Bongo Ondimba, ’, Oluwole, Elisabeth Borne, Chris Ogunmodede, that’s, Paul Biya, Ogunmodede, ” Ogunmodede, …, ” Ojewale, “, Ndongo Samba Sylla, Emmanuel Macron, Macron Organizations: CNN, Military, Gabonese, Agence France, Presse, Gabon, Getty, Institute of Security Studies, autocrats, Central African, CFA, Banque de France, “, Macron Locations: Gabon, France, Gabon’s, Libreville, AFP, Niger, Gabonese, West, Central Africa, Mali, Senegal, Dakar, ”, Niamey, Paris, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Switzerland, Africa, Russia, Commonwealth, Togo, Macron France, Nigeria, “ Africa

☆ Monkey business: Delhi gets cutouts of langurs to ease menace during G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Sakshi Dayal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A cut-out of a langur is tied to a fence alongside a road to scare away monkeys, ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, August 30, 2023. In addition, the authority has started providing food to monkeys in forested areas to ensure they do not wander beyond the boundaries. "We started placing these cutouts in the city over the last one week and are already seeing a positive impact. This is not the first time New Delhi has turned to langurs to resolve its monkey problem during a major international event. Live langurs were rented and put on duty when the Commonwealth Games were held in the city in 2010.

Persons: Anushree, spoilsport, Satish Upadhyay, Upadhyay, langurs, Sakshi Dayal, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, DELHI, New, New Delhi Municipal Council, Commonwealth Games, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi

☆ McConnell’s frozen moment renews questions about America’s aged leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Also in the Senate, California’s Dianne Feinstein, 90, has been ill and displayed apparent cognitive decline in public in recent months. But given that Biden, McConnell and Feinstein are public officials, voters are entitled to a high level of transparency. Biden, for instance, would be 86 by the time his second term ends, which represents his biggest vulnerability in the 2024 election. Remarkably, in an age where major questions divide on party lines, 69% of Democrats shared that view. Should Biden, if he wins a second term, experience a similar moment to McConnell, questions about the continuity of US leadership would reverberate around the world and offer openings for US adversaries.

Persons: Mitch, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, California’s Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, –, Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd of, Biden, McConnell, Jonathan Reiner, CNN’s Erica Hill, ”, Reiner, Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Tapper, Jean, Nikki Haley, – Trump, Haley, Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Haley, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, they’ve, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, CNN’s Manu Raju, John Thune, McConnell “, Jim Banks, CNN’s Raju, Sprightly Iowa GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, who’s Organizations: CNN, Kentucky Republican, Senate, George Washington University, United States Senate, Associated Press, White, White House, Former South Carolina Gov, GOP, Republicans, Biden, Fox News, Democratic, Supreme, Labor, West Virginia Republican, Republican, prudential, Indiana, Sprightly Iowa GOP, California Democrat, Capitol Locations: Kentucky, South Carolina, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Ukraine, Washington, Dakota, Sprightly Iowa, California, It’s

☆ Australia gas strike threat: What happens has 'massive ramifications' for Europe, says economist
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAustralia gas strike threat: What happens has 'massive ramifications' for Europe, says economistVivek Dhar, director of mining and energy economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, says the "whipsawing effect" in markets will exist "until we see some deal or some closure."

Persons: Vivek Dhar Organizations: Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Europe

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